With so many people claiming to be mixing and mastering engineers online it’s hard to know who you can really trust when hiring a mastering engineer. I believe you should ask the following questions in order to narrow down your list.
- Who has the Mastering Engineer worked with? – You should be able to listen to some examples of the mastering engineers work. Also, see who is on their client list. Have they worked with some artists you know? Does the engineer master the same kind of music you are interested in getting mastered? Making sure the engineer knows the style of music you need mastering is of utmost importance.
- How long has the Mastering Engineer been in Business? – Starting up a website with an “I master music” sticker is pretty easy to do. A good way to find out if the person you hire is experienced is to ask how long have they been in business. I’m not saying that a guy who has only been in business for 1/2 a year isn’t any good. But it might be easier to trust a mastering engineer who has been in business for at least a few years. Also, the longer an engineer has been professionally mastering music the more experience they will have dealing with all the obstacles that a project can come across.
- Is the Mastering Engineer Mastering in a Professional Studio? – You can make fantastic songs with a computer in your bedroom these days. However, when having your song or album mastered it is important that the person you hire can hear how the music translates across the full frequency spectrum. The issue with mastering in your bedroom is that the room is not acoustically treated and there can be all kinds of frequency masking that can impair your judgment. Having your project mastered in a professional studio will ensure that it will translate on all listening devices.
Need to get your song mastered?
Matty Harris is a mixing and mastering engineer who has worked in the music business for over 15 years. He has worked with artists such as Kelly Clarkson, A$AP Rocky, Cousin Stizz, and many more. Take a look at our front page to hear song examples of some of his work. If you are interested in having Matty mix or master your next project you can see our prices here.
